Letter 1,57 - to Sub-deacon Anthelm. July 591
"If we confront the necessities of those nearest to us with customary compassion and kindly intent, without doubt we find the Lord merciful to our requests. Indeed, the illustrious lady, Palatina, has suggested to us that she is subject to a great many needs. due to the continual hostilities. For that reason we instruct your Experience with the present authority not to delay in giving her thirty gold coins per annum for her maintanance, which could be charged to your account afterwards."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 177.
Saturday, 11 September 2010
You Choose, I Choose Better
Letter 1,56 - to Duke Arsicinus, the clergy, the senate and the people of Rimini. July 591
"We advise your Charity with this present letter that nobody ought to tire himself out before us over the person of Ocleantinus [a bishop-elect]. But if someone is found in that same city capable of this office [of bishop], to the extent that we could no fault in him, let your election follow accordingly. However, it nobody is found worthy of this office, we have told the bearer of this letter about the person upon whom equally you should bestow your decision.
But you must pray unanimously and faithfully that whoever is consecrated bishop, can both become useful to you and can show a priestly service worthy of our God."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 177.
"We advise your Charity with this present letter that nobody ought to tire himself out before us over the person of Ocleantinus [a bishop-elect]. But if someone is found in that same city capable of this office [of bishop], to the extent that we could no fault in him, let your election follow accordingly. However, it nobody is found worthy of this office, we have told the bearer of this letter about the person upon whom equally you should bestow your decision.
But you must pray unanimously and faithfully that whoever is consecrated bishop, can both become useful to you and can show a priestly service worthy of our God."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 177.
Monday, 6 September 2010
Election
Letter 1,55 - to Bishop Severus. July 591
"A letter from your Fraternity has informed us that some of you have agreed on the election of Ocleantinus as bishop. But, as we do not accept him, they ought not to waste tim on this person. But proclaim to the inhabitants of that same city that, if they find someone in the same church who is worthy of that office, they should all change their minds and elect him. Otherwise the bearer of this letter will indicate a person whom we have discussed with him, and a decree should be made over his election.
As for you, be wise and concerned in your visitation of the same church, so that its property is preserved undiminished, and its services are carried out in the usual manner under your guidance."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 177.
"A letter from your Fraternity has informed us that some of you have agreed on the election of Ocleantinus as bishop. But, as we do not accept him, they ought not to waste tim on this person. But proclaim to the inhabitants of that same city that, if they find someone in the same church who is worthy of that office, they should all change their minds and elect him. Otherwise the bearer of this letter will indicate a person whom we have discussed with him, and a decree should be made over his election.
As for you, be wise and concerned in your visitation of the same church, so that its property is preserved undiminished, and its services are carried out in the usual manner under your guidance."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 177.
Festivities
Letter 1,54 to Sub-deacon Peter. July 591.
"We indicate to you that with our Lord's help we have decided that in the month of August, the oratory of the blessed Mary, which was recently built in the monastery of the brethren where the abbot Marinianus is recognized as the superior, is to be dedicated with the greatest care. Thus what we set in motion is to be brought to a conclusion, with the assistance of God.
But because the poverty of that monastery demands that we must cooperate with you on the festival day itself, for that reason in celebrating the dedication, we want you to give ten gold coins to relieve the poor, and thirty amphorae of wine, two hundred sacks of corn, two large jars of olive oil, twelve rams and a hundred chicken."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 176.
"We indicate to you that with our Lord's help we have decided that in the month of August, the oratory of the blessed Mary, which was recently built in the monastery of the brethren where the abbot Marinianus is recognized as the superior, is to be dedicated with the greatest care. Thus what we set in motion is to be brought to a conclusion, with the assistance of God.
But because the poverty of that monastery demands that we must cooperate with you on the festival day itself, for that reason in celebrating the dedication, we want you to give ten gold coins to relieve the poor, and thirty amphorae of wine, two hundred sacks of corn, two large jars of olive oil, twelve rams and a hundred chicken."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 176.
Friday, 3 September 2010
A Plea For Merciful Justice
Letter 1,53 - to Sub-deacon Anthelm. July 591.
"I remember having warned you quite often not only with frequent injunctions, but also face to face, to administer our office there not so much for the sake of Church interests as for alleviating the needs of the poor, and more for protecting them against th oppression of whoever it may be.
(...) It is harsh that some who buy their freedom for the due price are reduced to slavery once more by the Church, that should have protected them against it. And so we find it necessary to advice your Experience again and again that if some questions arise there between poor people and the holy Roman Church, you must discuss them with total integrity of mind, and pursue the interests of the patrimony in such a way that you do not withdraw from merciful justice."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 175.
"I remember having warned you quite often not only with frequent injunctions, but also face to face, to administer our office there not so much for the sake of Church interests as for alleviating the needs of the poor, and more for protecting them against th oppression of whoever it may be.
(...) It is harsh that some who buy their freedom for the due price are reduced to slavery once more by the Church, that should have protected them against it. And so we find it necessary to advice your Experience again and again that if some questions arise there between poor people and the holy Roman Church, you must discuss them with total integrity of mind, and pursue the interests of the patrimony in such a way that you do not withdraw from merciful justice."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 175.
On Devotion
Letter 1,52 - to John, bishop of Sorrento. July 591.
"It is easy to give one's consent to religious desires, so that faithful devotion achieves a rapid outcome. And since Sabinus, abbot of the monastery of Saint Stephen on the isle of Capri, has advised us that he has long since held at his place the relics of the martyred Saint Agatha, as agreed to, and since he wants these holy relics themselves to be located in his monastery, for that reason we bid you to visit the aforesaid monastery and, if it is agreed that the body of no one has been buried there, you will place the aforesaid holy relics there with due solemnity, to achieve the purpose of her devotion."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 175.
"It is easy to give one's consent to religious desires, so that faithful devotion achieves a rapid outcome. And since Sabinus, abbot of the monastery of Saint Stephen on the isle of Capri, has advised us that he has long since held at his place the relics of the martyred Saint Agatha, as agreed to, and since he wants these holy relics themselves to be located in his monastery, for that reason we bid you to visit the aforesaid monastery and, if it is agreed that the body of no one has been buried there, you will place the aforesaid holy relics there with due solemnity, to achieve the purpose of her devotion."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 175.
Worthy Priests
Letter 1,51 - to Felix, bishop op Siponto. July 591.
"It has come to our attention that the church of Canusium is so destitute of the office of priesthood that the dying cannot receive penitence there, nor infants baptism.
Most disturbed therefore by the importance of something so holy and so necessary, we order your Beloved to go and visit the above mentioned church, supported by the authority of this injunction, and you should ordain two parish priests at least, but only those whom you have seen as worthy of such an office through holiness of their life and gravity of their morals, and men subject in no way to the rules of canon law, so that Canusium is provided with the worthy safeguard of a sacred church."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 175.
"It has come to our attention that the church of Canusium is so destitute of the office of priesthood that the dying cannot receive penitence there, nor infants baptism.
Most disturbed therefore by the importance of something so holy and so necessary, we order your Beloved to go and visit the above mentioned church, supported by the authority of this injunction, and you should ordain two parish priests at least, but only those whom you have seen as worthy of such an office through holiness of their life and gravity of their morals, and men subject in no way to the rules of canon law, so that Canusium is provided with the worthy safeguard of a sacred church."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 175.
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